Emusic

Tom Storer · May-5th-2003, 02:37 AM

emusic

What happened to the threads on emusic? Can't find them anywhere.

Anyway... It's the best.

And now they have "variable bit rate" instead of 128 kbps, which will mean better sound, but this is apparently causing some glitches with their Download Manager software. I downloaded a couple of albums last night with no problem, however I was unable to do my usual thing of selecting six or eight or ten for download just before going to bed. I selected one, fired up the download, selected another - and when I tried to queue it up for download, I was told I had exceeded the maximum number of songs I could queue! I don't know what the number of songs is, but this is impractical.

BFrank · May-5th-2003, 02:50 AM

Tom - They are trying to stop people with 3rd party software who cue up dozens of albums at a time and abuse the system. The new Download Manager is now mandatory to d/l music and there is a 45 tune limit. Now, that's only a limit on what can be cued up at any one time. It means that if you want more than that in one session, you have to stick around and clear it out periodically.

As far as glitches, my understanding is that the problems have been with the server, not the DL Manager. It seems to be working a lot better now.

Tom Storer · May-5th-2003, 05:04 AM

Thanks, BFrank. I can understand their desire to thwart 3rd-party software. Still, it was so handy to pick a bunch of albums and go to bed, knowing they'd be downloaded in the morning!

I suffer, I suffer.

Tanager · May-5th-2003, 01:54 PM

Yeah, the limit is a PITA, but it's definitely one with which I can live. VBR is slick. I haven't d/l'd anything since they switched, but I'm going to tonight.

Tom, what was that rec you gave me in reply to mine of Ricky Skaggs?

John B · May-6th-2003, 08:29 AM

for those of you outside of the USA, someone on emusic just posted that Download Manager 2 allows you to download "restricted" tracks with no problem.

I have no idea if and when emusic will close this loophole.

Tom Storer · May-6th-2003, 10:07 AM

Tanager, I suggested the 7-CD set on Shanachie/Yazoo entitled "Kentucky Mountain Music." It's not bluegrass. It's hillbilly stuff recorded in the 20's and 30's, a mix of songs (ballads, murder songs, etc.) and dance music, sometimes just fiddle tunes and sometimes string bands. Not polished virtuoso stuff at all, but I love it. Another good set along the same lines is the 5-CD "Times Ain't Like They Used To Be." There's also a bunch of country blues compilations I'm starting to download. I like this label a lot.

Gary Delligatti · May-7th-2003, 07:26 AM

For something different on E-Music, check out some comedy stuff. They have some freakin funny stuff here like John Pinette" "Show Me the Buffet" He kicks open the doors of the local buffet and screams, "I'm here with 300 others from the Weight Watchers Meeting, and we're coming off the wagon!"

John B · May-7th-2003, 02:05 PM

a lot of new OmniTone discs have been added to emusic, but are not showing on the New page yet. Do a search by label and you will find them. Some great stuff, including a disc I just ordered (Baikida Carroll), not realizing that OmniTone had signed on to emusic.

Noj · May-7th-2003, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gary Delligatti
For something different on E-Music, check out some comedy stuff. They have some freakin funny stuff here like John Pinette" "Show Me the Buffet" He kicks open the doors of the local buffet and screams, "I'm here with 300 others from the Weight Watchers Meeting, and we're coming off the wagon!"

The Chinese buffet owner, "You go NOW! You be here FOUR hour!"

BFrank · May-9th-2003, 01:49 AM

Red Alert! - Richard Thompson's "The Old Kit Bag" is now available - the WHOLE album!

Troy D · May-9th-2003, 12:25 PM

Since we just got high-speed Internet access, I thought I'd take a shot at the free trial period. Within the first few hours I had downloaded 5 albums, and signed up for a one-year commitment. I am happier than a kid in a candy store right now. It's been less than a week, and so far I've downloaded 30+ albums. With broadband, each one takes about 5-7 minutes to download. My only dilemma now is figuring out when I'm going to get the time to listen to all this stuff.

VBR is terrific--MUCH better than the 128 kpbs rate. I've burned a couple CDs and played them on my system, and while they're not quite up to CD quality, they're pretty damn close. Considering the amazing bargain emusic is, any marginal trade-offs in sound quality are completely worth it, IMO.

BFrank · May-9th-2003, 01:02 PM

Yes, I'm finding the new VBR files MUCH improved. I've been RE-downloading like crazy for the past week. Especially the Fantasy family of albums, which were some of the worst sounding.

John B · May-14th-2003, 06:03 PM

Brotzmann's More Nipples has just been added. Hopefully that means Pakistani Pomade will be available soon.

Also lots of new Omnitone

Pete C · May-17th-2003, 12:32 PM

Too bad Enja is gone, since Koch no longer distributes them. I think Justin Time is now their North American distributor.

Tom Storer · May-17th-2003, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pete C
Too bad Enja is gone, since Koch no longer distributes them. I think Justin Time is now their North American distributor.

Pete, do you mean that Enja is gone because Koch no longer distributes them? How does that work? Or do you mean that since they're only available in shops, it's too bad Justin Time is their distributor instead of Koch?

BFrank · May-17th-2003, 11:03 PM

Koch is a supplier of tunes to EMusic. So, I imagine that Pete meant that if they are no longer distributing Enja, that was the reason that label is no longer available.

BTW, EMusic just added 4AD - Beggars and Beggars Banquet to the list of labels. This includes such artists as The Pixies, Dead Can Dance, Bauhuas, Cocteau Twins, Throwing Muses, The Fall, Love and Rockets, Peter Murphy and others. An interesting selection of 80's-style, goth/progressive sounds.

Tom Storer · May-18th-2003, 05:00 AM

So if Koch makes the deal with emusic for the labels it represents, does that mean the emusic thing is part of the distributor's deal with the labels it represents, rather than directly between the labels and emusic? In other words, Koch signs a contract with label X that stipulates it will provide emusic with certain of label X's CDs, instead of label X signing a contract with emusic and informing its distributor, Koch, of the arrangement?

Gary Delligatti · May-18th-2003, 08:43 AM

ALERT--
Don't know if this has been mentioned yet, but Jimmy Woods' "Conflict" is now available at E-Music featuring Andrew Hill on Piano. I haven't heard it yet but the line-up is impressive

The Jimmy Woods Sextet: Jimmy Woods (alto saxophone); Harold Land (tenor saxophone); Carmell Jones (trumpet); Andrew Hill (piano); George Tucker (bass); Elvin Jones (drums).